The start list or the 2023 Isle of Man TT Supertwin races has been published, with Dominic Herbertson confirmed as the first rider to set off down Bray Hill on the lightweight machines.
Unlike in the past, the Supertwins will get two races at the 2023 Isle of Man TT as part of the event’s new 10-race schedule.
In 2022, the Aprilia RS 660 and Yamaha R7 were two new motorcycles admitted into the class alongside the likes of the Paton S1R and Kawasaki Ninja 650, although the RS 660 was unfavoured, and the R7 comes into 2023 still unproven in the Supertwin TT. For 2023, the regulations of the Supertwin class have been adjusted in order to try to level the competition between the different manufacturers.
The Kawasaki is the most popular bike among the first 20 starters for the 2023 Supertwin TT races, and also the bike of choice for Dominic Herbertson and the John M Paterson/CC Engineering team for whom Herbertson, wearing the #1 plate in the Supertwin class, will ride.
Behind Herbertson comes the first of three Yamahas. The #2 bike will be ridden by Michael Rutter for Bathams Racing, and he will set off ahead of a trio of Kawasaki riders.
Said trio will be headed by PreZ Racing’s Paul Jordan, ahead of KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward, and Rob Hodson on the SMT/KH Commercials machine.
As is the usual, Michael Dunlop will set off at the #6 position on the MD Racing Paton, the first of the bikes from the Italian manufacturer which has dominated the last four years of Supertwin racing at the TT.
Behind Dunlop is Gary Johnson, for RC Express, on another Kawasaki; before the second Paton in the order, that of Pierre-Yves Bian for VAS Engine.
Lee Johnston is ninth into the race on the Ashcourt Racing Aprilia, the first of the Noale bikes, before Peter Hickman sets off on the #10 PHR Performance Yamaha.
Stefano Bonetti, by now a veteran of the Supertwin class, sets off 11th on the Team ILR Paton; ahead of his teammate at ILR, Francesco Curinga.
Wearing #13 will be Michal Dokoupil on the Rocknet Aprilia, while Chris Moore will be 14th away for iHeat Racing and their Kawasaki Ninja 650.
James Chawke completes the first 15 starters for Emmjess Racing Kawasaki, while Mike Browne takes the 16th position on the RK Racing Paton, Michael Sweeney is 17th on the third Team ILR Paton, Xavier Denis is 18th with performanX Racing Team’s Kawasaki, Michael Evans is 19th for M.E Racing Aprilia, and Craig Neve completes the top 20 with the second Bathams Racing Yamaha.
2023 Isle of Man TT Supertwin first 20 start list
- Dominic Herbertson - John M Paterson/CC Engineering, Kawasaki
- Michael Rutter - Bathams Racing, Yamaha
- Paul Jordan - PreZ Racing by Prosper2, Kawasaki
- Jamie Coward - KTS Racing powered by Steadplan, Kawasaki
- Rob Hodson - SMT/KH Commercials, Kawasaki
- Michael Dunlop - MD Racing, Paton
- Gary Johnson - RC Express, Kawasaki
- Pierre-Yves Bian - VAS Engine, Paton
- Lee Johnston - Ashcourt Racing, Aprilia
- Peter Hickman - PHR Performance, Yamaha
- Stefano Bonetti - Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
- Francesco Curinga - Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
- Michal Dokoupil - Rocknet, Aprilia
- Chris Moore - Silverstar Services/iHeat Racing, Kawasaki
- James Chawke - Carl Roberts/Emmjess Racing, Kawasaki
- Mike Browne - BE/RK Racing, Paton
- Michael Sweeney - Team ILR/Frog Racing Developments, Paton
- Xavier Denis - performanX Racing Team, Kawasaki
- Michael Evans - Rea Racing Dyno Centre/M.E Racing, Aprilia
- Craig Neve - Bathams Racing, Yamaha
The first three-lap Supertwin TT at the 2023 Isle of Man TT will take place on 6 June, and the second race on 9 June.
Image credit: Isle of Man TT Press.
